Sometimes, you just have to do what you’ve got to do.
As I’m learning during my time in Thailand, the Grab app (the Uber equivalent here) is a bit like rolling the dice—sometimes it gets you where you want to go… and sometimes it almost does. And when you’re blind, “almost” can make all the difference.
Navigating transportation here comes with its own little adventure menu:
- Buses? A hard no—for me, and honestly, for some sighted folks too.
- MRT (subway)? Doable! The staff are helpful, and with a little orientation, I can make it work. But you still have to walk to your exact destination, which isn’t always easy.
- Taxis or Grab? Let’s just say… it depends. On GPS accuracy. On rain. And most of all, on the kindness of your driver.
Now, let’s get to the story.
It was one of those days where everyone in my group was tied up, but I didn’t want to waste the entire day sitting indoors. So I made a solo mission out of it.
I called a Grab.
I explained my destination.
I prayed for the best.
The driver dropped me off… somewhere. Was it close? I think so. Was it the place? Not quite. To add drama to the scene, cue the sudden Thai downpour—the kind that laughs at umbrellas and turns streets into rivers.
Being blind, I couldn’t wander around looking for signs or landmarks. I also couldn’t see shelter ahead. So I did what any logical person would do: I found a covered area and waited. Waited for the rain to ease, for the GPS to hopefully update, and for some miracle of human kindness to arrive.
Time slowed.
The rain didn’t.
No one around me spoke English, and my Thai is… let’s just say in development.
Eventually, more rain-soaked souls gathered under the same shelter. I heard some English being spoken—a beacon of hope! I politely asked one man if he could help me figure out where I was. Not only did he speak English, but he went above and beyond. He walked to the store I was looking for and brought back a staff member—umbrella in hand—to walk me over safely in the rain.
Talk about a plot twist.
Once I arrived, I got to sit down, enjoy a snack, and relax while waiting for my group to arrive a few hours later. What started as a frustrating, wet, and uncertain moment turned into one of those little stories that sticks with you—not because it was dramatic, but because it was human.
This may seem like a small thing, but in moments like these, you realize how far positive thinking, a little patience, and faith in the goodness of others can take you.
It could’ve gone another way. But it didn’t. And I’m thankful for that.
Traveling blind has its challenges, sure. But it also gives you the chance to witness the invisible beauty—like kindness, connection, and resilience.
Rain or shine, lost or found, there’s always a way forward.
Blind Can You Can 
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